Problems will be solved by honesty, not politics
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November 3, 2011
To The Eagle:
I kinda liked old Richard Nixon. He normalized relations with China and did much to tidy up the messy situation in Southeast Asia before his henchmen committed some minor felonious acts at the Watergate and he chose to stonewall and cover up. I had the solution to his problems: release the mysterious tapes, admit the foul-up and press on. But he didn't (son-of-a-gun didn't even call me) and the rest is history.
We're at a similar tipping point right here in River City. Our world class Cathlamet Fire Department is required by law to have their bookkeeping done by the town, but they have chosen to do their own and apparently made some errors along the way. Maybe not, but the state auditors would like to know and have pressed town officials for the records. The town has made scant progress by either jaw-boning or arm-twisting and the FBI has caught the scent and is sniffing around the edges. Instead of the graceful way out, which is full disclosure, the fire department has chosen to balk and go political.
Chief DeBriae has penned a letter recommending a write-in candidate, Dale Jacobson, to replace councilor Steve McNichols who is guilty of the sin of wanting to comply with the oath of office and uphold the state constitution and the law. From the sidelines, Attorney George Hanigan finds our mayor lacking "wisdom" because he too wants to comply with the law and he chides "non-resident" Pat Reese for expressing an interest in fire department financial shenanigans. The reason we outsiders from the jungles of Puget Island are interested in these antics is not only because Cathlamet is our county seat, but also is home base for our paramedics, whose morale is being affected by this unneeded conflict and whose services we antique citizens may well be in need of.
It's a shame to welcome Dale Jacobson back to our community by dragging him into the melee. The solution to our problems is not political; it is honesty, forthrightness, and full disclosure on the part of our fire department leadership.
Howard Brawn
Puget Island
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